John Muir Way
The John Muir Way is a 215-kilometre (130 mi) continuous long-distance route in southern Scotland, running from Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute in the west to Dunbar, East Lothian in the east. It is named in honour of the Scottish conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 and became a founder of the United States National Park Service. The route provides a coast-to-coast route across Scotland, linking Muir's birthplace with Scotland's first national park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, and Helensburgh, from where he left Scotland for the United States. It is suitable for walkers and cyclists although some sections are on rougher terrain and may not be suitable for road bicycles.
| John Muir Way | |
|---|---|
Gullane beach lies on the trail. | |
| Length | 215 kilometres (134 mi) |
| Location | Argyll and Bute and East Lothian, Scotland |
| Designation | Scotland's Great Trails |
| Trailheads | Helensburgh Esplanade, Helensburgh, Argyll 56.0031°N 4.7368°W Dunbar 56.0025°N 2.5165°W |
| Use | Hiking and cycling |
| Elevation gain/loss | 2,015 metres (6,611 ft) gain |
| Lowest point | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Difficulty | Easy-to-moderate |
| Season | All year |
| Sights | Castles, canals, beaches, birds, Roman sites, Falkirk Wheel |
| Hazards | none |
| Website | johnmuirway |
The John Muir Way opened on 21 April 2014. Previously a shorter 'John Muir Way' existed only in East Lothian, but the majority of this older route has now been absorbed into the much longer new route. A shorter section of the older route from Dunbar to the Scottish Borders has been renamed as the 'John Muir Link'. In 2017 the route was designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot. The Independent declared the original John Muir Way its Walk of the Month for February 2014. Between 240,000 and 300,000 people use the path every year, of whom about 5,500 walk the entire route.